Sweden launches new research collaboration for climate and security

A new research collaboration for climate and security will be launched today in connection with World Water Week in Stockholm. The Stockholm Climate Security Hub brings together four Swedish research institutes that are world leaders in the area of climate and security. The aim is to promote knowledge development and policy dialogue in the area, not least to support the UN and other multilateral actors with evidence-based analyses.

Margot Wallström and Isabella Lövin.Photo: Government Offices

The Stockholm Climate Security Hub comprises four world-class organisations in the area of climate and security: the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC). The initiative is financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

“To address climate change and its effects, political decisions need to be based on facts. Security around the world will be affected, and greater knowledge is needed about exactly what forms these climate-related security risks will take and what we should do to deal with them. This is where Sweden can contribute,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation Isabella Lövin.

Highlighting the link between climate and security has been a priority for the Government. The negative effects of climate change – such as rising sea levels, flooding and long-term drought – can aggravate social unrest and instability by affecting people’s access to water and food, their livelihoods and migration.

“We need to draw more attention to the link between climate and conflict. This is a priority issue for Sweden to promote peace and security internationally, not least in the UN Security Council. The Hub will be able to support the UN and other multilateral actors by providing the latest knowledge to contribute to more effective and evidence-based decision-making,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström.